Author Jacqueline Wilson’s surprise gift to Sprowston schoolgirl

06:30 17 February 2014

Adam Gretton
adam.gretton@archant.co.uk

Amelia Botly was unable to meet Jacqueline Wilson at a Norwich book signing due to no ticket availability she wrote to Jacqueline to express disappointment.
She got a reply from Jacqueline who sent a 'goodie bag' of posters, books and t shirt.
Photo by Simon Finlay.

A Sprowston schoolgirl’s disappointment about not getting to see her favourite author turned into delight after she was sent a goodie bag from Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

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Amelia Botly, who celebrates her ninth birthday today, was hoping to see the children’s author at a book signing event at Jarrold department store in Norwich on Saturday February 22.

However, when tickets sold out, the schoolgirl posted a message on the Jacqueline Wilson fan club Facebook page expressing her disappointment.

To her surprise, she received a message back asking for her address and a few days later, a parcel arrived in the post comprising of Jacqueline Wilson books, a T-shirt, stickers, poster, bag and bookmarks.

Amelia, who goes to Falcon Junior School, in Sprowston, said she could not believe it when she opened the package from the author on Wednesday.

She added that she still hoped to meet the former children’s laureate who is best known for her Tracy Beaker books.

Amelia, of Cere Road, Sprowston, said: “I was really surprised and excited and when I got home and opened the parcel I was really surprised and happy.”

“I am a really big fan of hers and I have 24 to 35 books and I have read about six or seven of them. My favourite is about her life as a little girl.”

“I told my friend Lilly and she is a massive Jacqueline Wilson fan and was really happy and a bit jealous and my other friends at school were really surprised,” she said.

Dame Jacqueline is due to be signing copies of her new book, Paws and Whiskers, featuring stories about cats and dogs from the world of children’s literature in Norwich this weekend.

Dame Jacqueline served as children’s laureate from 2005 to 2007 and has been awarded a number of prestigious awards, including the British Children’s Book of the Year, the Smarties Prize and the Children’s Book Award. She was the author most borrowed from British libraries in the last decade.